West Orange Police Join Crack Down on Distracted Driving

Police in West Orange have joined the statewide crack down on distracted driving, specifically texting and driving.

Beginning April 1, police throughout New Jersey will be participating in the “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” campaign, which combines intense enforcement of anti-texting laws with advertising and media outreach to let people know about the enforcement to combat distracted driving.

West Orange Police Chief and Director of Staff Operations James Abbott said authorities hope the campaign will make people aware of the law and its enforcement and get them to obey the law. “Texting is especially dangerous because people have to take their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road,” Abbott said.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office announced last week that it, too, would be participating in the campaign. Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated in a release that the crackdown initiative, which is funded by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, is being undertaken to prevent further deaths and injuries to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

“The number of persons killed or maimed as the direct result of distracted driving is truly staggering,” Fontoura stated. “Inattentive driving persists despite educational, awareness and enforcement efforts by public safety personnel. We are hopeful that this initiative will serve as a wake-up call to all drivers.”

West Orange officials reminded motorists that a summons issued for using a cell phone without a hands-free device results in a fine between $200 and $400 for the first offense. The fine increases to $400 to $600 for the second offense and a third offense could result in a suspended license and a fine of $600 to $800.

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